Twin head toothbrush and custom covers



Sept. 11,v 1956 l. DANCHIG 2,762,074

TWIN HEAD TOOTHBRUSH AND CUSTOM COVERS Filed Dec. 16, 1950 United States Patent() TWIN HEAD TOOTHBRUSH AND CUSTOM COVERS Ira Danchig, New York, N. Y., assigner of fifty per cent to Peter Fries, Jr., New York, N. Y.

Application December 16, 1950, Serial No. 201,117

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-184) This invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning and brushing.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device for cleaning and brushing, in which a plurality of cleaning and brushing elements are cooperatively integrated for unitary results.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device for cleaning and brushing portions of the body, including the teeth, a plurality of operative heads being provided in mutually integrated disposition, and in which novel means are provided for safeguarding and protecting each of said operative heads against damage or deformation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device incorporating a plurality of cleaning and brushing operative elements mutually integrated, for selective or joint use, and including a plurality of protective removable covering means arranged for removable engagement therewith so as to provide protection for the bristle elements thereof, the mode of engagement and disengagement being quite simple and novel, and secure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel composite toothbrushing device in which dual covering elements are provided for each brushing head, and wherein, upon uncovering of one such brushing head for employment in cleaning and brushing operations, the remaining covering element coacts with the remaining covered device body and brushing head to form a handle and grip for securely holding the device while in use, and for protecting at the same time, the brushing head from contamination and deformation.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel composite toothbrushing device in which novel covering elements are provided for each brushing head, the covering elements being constructed and arranged so as to provide protection for the brushing elements against contamination, deformation and damage, and at the same time providing air circulation means so that free access to the bristles is provided at all times, with its drying and germicidal properties.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel brush head covering device of the character described, which may be employed with other toothbrushing devices.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel brushing and cleaning device of the character described, which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is vhighly effective and eiiicient for its intended purposes.

These and otherV objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and in which, Y v

Figure 1 is a top plan View of my novel and improved device shown in Figure 2, both covering members being in positions completely closing the device.

while the other covering member is shown in partly thereof. Further, where one person alone, employs thev opened position and broken out.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the completely assembled and closed device in hanging position upon a bathroom fixture.

In the use of brushing and cleaning devices, it is most important that they be maintained in a sanitary condition. Such considerations are essential especially when such devices are employed for cleaning the teeth and mouth. They should be protected from contact of their working surfaces and bristles with any contaminating influence, but the covering means should not prevent adequate contact with surrounding air, so that it may both dry and protect their surfaces and bristles.

In traveling, it is often quite inconvenient to take along more than one toothbrush, evenvwhen two persons are traveling together, and it is an advantage of the presentV invention that two persons may employ the same unitary tooth brushing and cleaning device, without in any way detracting from the sanitation or convenience device, as a result of its dual brushing head construction and the novel protective and covering means, a longer drying period is permitted for each brushing element, so that its bristles remain rmer and do not deteriorate into a soggy mass, their life being considerably prolonged over devices not having these advantages.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the nvention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, there is a brush body 10 form-ed into two brush body halves 12 and 14 extending in opposite directions out of the central hub '20 and integrated therewith. Secured to the outer end portions of the body halves 12 and 14 respectively, are the brush head extensions 16 and 18, and these heads have bristles 24 and 22 respectively, seated in sockets 26 formed in their undersurfaces. The bristles are set in a series of groups, and may be in one or more longitudinal rows, as seen best 1 in Figmre 4. It is seen that the brush head extensions 16 chambers' into which the brush vheads may be received and 18 terminate in rounded end portions 32 and 30 respectively. The hub 20 is thus disposed midway between the two ends 30 and 32, as shown at location 34, and the intersection of the hub with the two halves 12 and 14 may preferably be smoothly rounded as shown at 34 to block accumulation of debris and to facilitate cleaning.

Covering members 36 and 38 are provided as shown, these being so arranged as to cover and protect the brush heads with their bristles, from contamination and tov keep them clean. As seen best in Figure 1, the broad top surfaces of the members 12 and 14 may be made slightly narrower in width than that of the members 16 and 18 respectively, the areas of merger b tapered as shown. Y

The covering members 36 and 38`each have side-walls 40 and 42 which are spaced as seen best in Figure 4, and interconnected at the top and bottom -by top and bottom walls 46 and 44 respectively, with end walls 50 defining Patented Sept. 1l, 1956 eing smoothly slidably as in the manner shown best in Figures 2 and 6. When in closed positions, theinner open ends of the covering Yand handle members 36 and 38 are brought into contact abutment with the hub shoulder 20as seen ybest in Figures l and 2. The end walls 50 are provided with air circulation and venting openings 52, the bottom walls 44 are provided with openings 54and similarly the top walls V46am provided with openings 56. In Vthis manner,'when the bristles are totally enclosed bythe coveringVv and handle members 36 and 38, as seen in Figures l and 2, there is cross ventilation between these-holes, 52, 54 and S6, all around the brush heads, bristles, and body halves 12 and 14, and around the ends 30 and 32,'which as seen, are spaced Vfrom the end walls 50 of the covering members, preferably. Y

Elongated ribs 66 are formed integral with the left and right sides of the brush'head extensions 16 and 18, as seenV best infFigure4, andralso in Figure 2, substanly of the longitudinal extent shown, although this may be varied to be equal to the entire length'of the brush head extension 16 or i8. There is a corresponding groove 68V formed in the inner surfaces of the walls 40 and 42 of the housings 36 and 38, to receive these ribs 66 when the housings `are engaged with the brush heads, allowing slidableengagement of the ribs with the grooves as the housings are either moved toward the hub 20, or away therefrom for disengagement. The grooves 68 maybe either the Ventire length of the covering housings 36 or 38, that is from left to rightV as seen in Figures l and 2, or may be somewhat shorter, as shown in Figure 5, in which Ilatter event, the thickness ofthe wall to the left of theslot 68 would be reduced on its inner surface somewhat,

to allow the ribs 66 to reach and enter the groovesr68.

Where the material forming the covering housings 36 and 38 is plastic, and somewhat resilient, it maybe found that'suicient give exists to permit the ribs 66 to -move past and into the grooves 68 so as to effect snap engage-l ment therewith. In any event, there will be frictional enbristles in sanitary condition as well as `keeping the .other surfaces also quite clean. Further, a constant circulation of air is permitted across and throughout the interior of the brush covering members 36 and 38, allowing the parts and bristles to dry and remain germ free, avoiding mois-V ture. It isalso seen that when, as seen best in Figure 6,

'one of the brush heads is to be used, it is only necessary tograsp the right hand covering case 38 Vand the hub 20 with the right hand, and with the left hand Vto pull the left handVV covering case 36 toward the left and entirely o5 Vthe left handbrush head, which may thenV be used, the right hand covering case 38 serving as asturdy handle, and making sure that'there is no contactirof the ,hand with the right hand brush head at all. The same procedure applies when the right hand brush is to be used, in which event the left'hand is used to hold the left'hand y housing 36 and the hub 20, whileV the right hand pulls 3S, so as to make for added rmness of grip of the device gagement of the ribs with their respective grooves 68, l

sulicient to hold the parts in mutual engagement as shown in Figure Yl, without accidental disengagement.

Further it will be understood that' where the parts 14,

and 12 are of the same width as the brush heads 16 and 18 as seen in Figure l rather than narrower as actually illustrated, then the ribs 66 could bethough they need not, the added length of the portions 12 and 14, in which event the grooves 68 would be lengthened to accommodate them.

It is seen that the grooves 68 and ribs 66 are smoothly rounded off as shown, so as to avoid any damage to the sensitive gums, teeth and mouth tissues of the user, and to Vmake for a high degree of sanitation and ease of cleaning the same.

Hook members 64vhave legs Y58 secured to or integrated with the walls of the covering housings 36 and/or 38, and have webs 60 connecting the legs 58 with the outer legs 62 which are thus spaced Vfrom the walls 44. These hook members allow-the engagement with any suitable support, such as the bathroom iixture shown at 65 in Figure 7, which has openings 67 normally placed there to receive the Shanks of toothbrushes of conventional prior art forms, with single brush heads, in which prior art cases their brush bristles are in contact with the surface of the'fixture V65. As seen in Figure 7, several Ysuch ktoothbrush devices as disclosed herein, may be hung from when used, this being especially important when the handsmay be soapy and not able to grasp objects readily. without dropping them. ,Y

Two persons may also make use of the same composite deviceV shown Vin Figure l, each person using his own brush head portion at a time, and neither contaminating the others brush. This makes it easy to carry it in the pocket or traveling bag, making it quite compact. Further, one person may use the device, by, if Vhe chooses, using one brush head inthe morning andthe other at night, allowing them to dry thoroughly and henceY have a longer life. Children can be taught to do this, brushingrtheir teeth twice a day, once with each brush head.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it will be understoodthat various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A cleaning device comprising a lateral wall forming a hub means, tirst andsecond body Shanks secured toand extending in opposite directions out of said hub means, brush heads secured to said first and second body Shanks, brushing and cleaning bristles onsaid brush heads,-rst and second hollow covering and handle means open at one end for engaging and normally covering said respec- Y tive iirst and secondV brush heads when not in use, complementary rib and groove means carriedV jointly by said brushheads and said first andsecond covering and handle means for Vmutual frictional engagement to Vconstrain accidental disengaging motion of the covering means from the handle means, said covering and handle means being constructed and arranged so that upon disengagement of either thereof, its underlying brush headis exposed for op.- erative use, while the other brush head remains covered, and its covering and handle means forms a `protective handle for the user, said hub means forming an inter vening stop and spacer separating the open ends'of said handle means when in contact therewith, cross ventilating means formed Vthrough Yeach of saidr covering Aand handle means for free access of ambient air to its in,- terior to maintain dry and clean the brush heads, .and widely opening hook means carried on at leastone of said covering and handle means for engagement withV a fixed object inv supporting relationship therefrom, said hook means being Y'constructed and arranged soV that whensaid covering and handle means'forms a handle, a linger of the hand of the user may be engaged therein to enhance the secure engagement of the hand with the device.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS White et a1 Mar. 31, 1914 Scovell June 27, 1916 Quam Aug. 6, 1918 Weinrib Nov. 25, 1924 Reich Nov. 6, 1928 Kreutzig May 30, 1939 Molumby et al. Dec. 7, 1948 Konczal Mar. 15, 1949 ArWood June 13, 1950 Morris Nov. 18, 1952 Zimmerman Sept. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 15, 1949 France Sept. 13, 1948 

